Building construction



April 21, 1936. E, GUGLER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 5, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet l I rIIII v WI I L I I I Hl I i IHHH/ (lttomegs.

E. GUGLER 2,037,895

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 5, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 21, 1936.

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April 21; 1936. GUGLER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 5, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 21, 1936.

E. GUGLER' BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed NQV. 5; 1931 6 Sheets-Sheep 5 (III'IIIIIIIIIII 1.111111111111111" 3rwentor zme m,

(Ittotn egS A ril 21, 1936. E. GUGLER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 5, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 & 26

Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 22 Claim.

This invention relates to building construction, and particularly the construction and instellation of rooms, portions of rooms, or alcoves, containing a number of units which are fixed in position, particularly mechanical or like units which are to be connected to distributing systems in the building, for drainage, ventilation, or the supply of hot and cold water, gas, elec= tricity, steam or the like.

While the invention is particularly suited to use in bath rooms, because of their limited size, and the possibility of using standardized units in apartment houses, hotels and the like, the held of use is by no means limited to bath rooms, The invention may, for example, be embodied in. pantries, kitchens, kitchen alcoves, domestic laundrles, rooms for domestic heaters and air conditioners, toilet rooms for roadside stations, and generally in any room having inbuilt units capable of some degree of standardization, and hence suited to mass production, and units which require plumbing connections, or connections for gas, electricity, steam, sir flow (ventiistion or circulation) and the like. As examples of inhuilt units within contemplation ere cabinets, washing machines, mengles, sinks, electric grills, toasters, gas or electric stoves, dough mixers, dish washers, heating appliances, and in loot unit which may be fixed in place and shipped in= stalled in the room.

The invention also contemplates the construc= tion of rooms in sections which are shipped sealed up and which sections are assembled one with another on the job, and units comprising more than one room. This gives additional latttude of selection: for example, a given lavatory unit may be combined with various alcove units, containing tub, or shower bath, or tub with. shower bath, or two loath rooms, or a loath room 40 and. pantry may be combined in one unit to economize 'piping. Also alcove units may he used to form parts of rooms which otherwise are of conventional construction. For instance, the ore-built units may o that portion.- of e. kitchen which comprises the stove, sinlrs, refrigerator and other equipment, which unit is then attached to o lerge room constituting the rest or the kitchen,

The present invention is'besed on the concept that'ii. such a room can be constructed at the factory complete with all fixtures, and connec tions from such fixtures to points external to the room, the complete room can be shipped, installed and connected without requiring access to the room. The advantages are, better co ordination of the work in a single plant, economy of material, wider selection of materials, simplification of the merchandising problem with consequent economies, economy of time used in and cost of installation, saving of dead space and the avoidance of all damage to the installed fix tures. This last advantage arises from the fact that the room may be installed in o sealed condition and that access thereto is unnecessary until the building is substantially completed, which time the door and window trim and the door and window may be installed.

Another feature of the invention is the design of the room unit in such manner that it does not require special crating or packing for shipment, and transportation, the unit itself constituting a sealed box suited for shipment without rlsl; oi. injury.

.sneillery lectures oi major importance are the provision of simple means ior insulating the room to limit the trensmission of sound and "nest, simplification of the piping by the use of moral fold. sections specially designed for standardized units, and the use of structure-l elements of. the room also pipes.

@ther features of invention will appear as description proceeds.

Frectical embodiments the invention are ll lustrated in the accompanying drawings, in. whicln l is e. fragment-or perspective view show two bath rooms mounted in the framework oi o loullding and partially connected.

in the upper portion oi this view oi the well structure are broken away to show details of construction, psrtlculsrly as to the tracing; and stifiening oi the room unit, the application oiv insulstion, the arrangement of the piping, and like features.

Fig. 2 is a. perspective view showing such at room in condition for shipment.

Fig. 8 is e vertical section through such a room.

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary vertical section indicat ing' how the bath tub is mounted.

Fig. 5 is another fragmentary vertical section transverse to the bath tub ondlllustrating cer tain structural details.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view indicating how the units are placed as the frame of the building is constructed.

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary perspective of the pin ing manifold.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged axial section .01 the piping connections used between superposed rooms for soil pipe and vent stacks. I

. Fig. 9 is an enlarged axial section of the extensible joint used in water supply pipes, steam lines, etc.

10 is a fragmentary section indicating a kitchen-alcove unit and a bath unit mounted one above the other.

Fig. 11 is ahorizontal section showing a lavatory unit and a shower alcove unit separately constructed and assembled.

Fig. 12 is a similar section of a tub and shower unit which may be substituted for the shower alcove unit of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view showing how a combined stiffening and pipe unit might be. formed from the sheet metal of. which the room is composed.

- Fig. 14 is a transverse section of the stiffening unit shown in Fi 10.

, Fig. 15 shows a modified construction of extensible joint of the type shown in Fig. 9.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the walls proper of the room are indicated at l6, the ceiling at I1, and the floor at l8. The room may be formed of one or more plates folded and welded to form what is in effect, uponthe completion of the welding operation, a unitary rectangular shell provided with the necessary openings. -As examples of these, a door opening 19 and awindow opening 2| are indicated. These openings are surrounded by channel members, indicated by the reference numeral 22. These are welded in place to'form fiush joints with the interior face of the wall plates, as indicated at 23 on Fig. 3. The channel members 22 serve first as stiffening members, second as means to receive and support the door and window frame, which is applied after the room is installed, as will be hereinafter. explained, and third to receive closure plates 24 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which are bolted in place after the room is completed at the factory and preparatory to shipment. These plates are left in place until the room is completely installed and connected. In fact they are not removed until the building construction has reached the stage at which the door and window frame are to be installed.

To stiffen the plates which make up the walls,

ceiling and fioor, external ribs are used. These may take various forms for example, as shown with reference to the ceiling H, in Fig. 1, they itself. A cross section of are bars 25"welded throughout their lengths to the upper surface of the ceilingplate. Another simple construction is that shown at 26 in Fig. 1, in which the ribs are bent up of the wall material a rib is shown also at 26, in Fig. 11, and it will be observed that the rib The weld is so treated as to give a flush internal surface. The

. fioor is similarly stifiened, and a floor stiffening rib bent up of the fioormaterial, is indicated at 29 in Fig. 5. In every instance where the rib is formed from the material of the wall, as indicated at 26 and'29; the fold may be welded to insure the necessary strength and stiffness.

In some instances it is desirable to give the stiffening webs or ribs a tubular form, and such construction is illustrated at 26*, Figs. 13 and 14. In such form there is a. weld at 28. This weld not only contributes to the rigidity of thestructure and provides a fiush interior surface on the wall plate [6, as in the case of the ribs 26, but it converts the tubular rib 26 into a pipe or duct, which, in some instances, will be found useful element.

The twelve dihedrals between the walls and between the walls and the ceiling or fioor, are

. stiffened by obliquely projecting webs 3|. These are special rolled sections having a head or enlargement 32 along the outer edge, the purpose of the enlargement being to give the stiffness requisite to resist corner shocks and to maintain the alinement of the room structure.

The webs 3! are welded to the room. structure, as indicated at33. These stiffening members are mitered together at the corners and are there welded so that the room walls and the stiffening web structure form a rigid unit. Bolted to the corner webs, near the four upper corners are lifting hooks 34, which offer means for attaching hoisting slings which must be used during the transportation of the room and during its emplacement in the building. While the removal of these hooks, after the room is in place, is not necessary and is not contemplated, there is no controlling reason why they may not be removed. When practicable, it is preferred to place all the piping on one side of the room, so that it can be constructed as a single manifold applied to the room as a unit. Another important feature is the arrangement of the manifold in such a way that the supplies, soil pipe and vent pipe form continuations of, or sections of, distributing systems extending upward through a tier of superposed rooms. Each of these plans is subject to modification, as occasion may require. For example, there may be a plurality of manifolds, where the location of fixtures or other details'render the use of a single one impracticable or undesirable.

' The construction shown in the drawings is illustrative and includes two ported terminal blocks 35 and 36, connected by flanges 31 and rivets 38 to webs 3| at top and bottom of one side of the room. The terminal blocks fit into notches formed in the webs to receive them, and are rigidly connected by various service pipes and ducts (see Fig. 7). Most important are the soil'pipe 39 with flanged closet fitting 4|, vent pipe 42, cold water supply 43, hot water supply 44, steam supply 45 (for radiator) and condensate return 46. The terminal blocks 35 and 36 have been described as ported, and it should be understood that the ports form merely extensions of the pipes and terminate in the upper face of upper block 35 and the lower face of lower block 36. Each upper block" 35, and, if desired, also each lower block 36, is formed with an electrical junction box 41. Thus the wiring of the room unit may be connected into and form a part of a general distributing system.

Obviously the terminal blocks might be welded in place, if preferred. Manifolds such as here described are cast as a unit or are fabricated from separately formed pieces welded together. This last is a very desirable construction, because wrought tubing may be used inwhole or in part. In either case a unit structure is produced.

In Figs. 1 and 7, no pipe fittings are shown, but the whole pipe layout, outside the wall of the bathroom is shown as a one-piece unit'including the mixing valve 48, drum trap 49 and the body 5| of the fiushvalve. To permit the mounting of such a manifold in a. previously fabricated room, the webs 26 are suitably notched, and,

after the application of the manifold, are 'reinforced by stays 52 welded in place.

The drum trap 49 is interposed in a drain 53 from the tub 54 to the soil pipe 39. The drain 53 is also connected with wash-stand 55 through trap 58. Both traps 48 and 56 have vent connections to the stack 42, as shown.

The mixing valve 48 is connected. with the hot methods of manufacture permits the economical production of room units, piping manifolds, and plumbing fixtures with such dimensional accuracy that they may be assembled rapidly, economically, and with certainty that they will fit, ,a result not even approached by present methods of installation on the job". In this way many provisions for adjustments, heretofore necessary, can be dispensed with. Consequently,

a great many joints are eliminated. Those joints which are necessarily retained can be better made.

In some; instances welded joints may be resorted to. Consequently, a better'result is secured and the risk of leakage and other failures is reduced to the minimum.

The steam line 45 and condensate return 48 are shown connected to a radiator 88 by branch pipes 81, 88. So far as practicable branch pipes such as these are formed integrally with the piping manifold, but in most instances screwed or welded joints, where the branches pass through;

the wall plate, will be found desirable.

The sanitary fixtures may be of ordinary form, but modifications of design will contribute to simplicity of installation. To assure a neat joint between the wall and the tub, and to assist in supporting the tub, the walls of the room are formed with an inward projecting ledge 88 where the tub is mounted.

The fioor covering is applied after the tub has been set and comprises aplastic layer ll. Factory construction permits the selection of a peculiarly wide range of plastics, as it becomes possible to use heat in applying the plastic, or to use solvents impracticable to use under conditions encountered in building construction.

The room illustrated inFigs. 1 to 5 has a ventilating duct 12 which leads through the celling. There is also'a medicine cabinet 13. A conduit' 14 leads from junction box 41 to light 15 and to the outlets l8 and 11. u The metal shell forming the room requires insulation against sound and heat. After the fixtures and piping are in place, metallic lath I8 is spot-welded to the ribs 25 and 28 and to the webs '3l. An insulating plastic, preferably containing asbestos or other fireproof material, is sprayed upon and through the lath producing a thick enclosing and protecting layer 19.

The room is completed at the factory, even to the interior finish. There is almost no limit to the selection of interior finish, but, as a rule, paint or lacquer will be found most satisfactory;

After the room is completed, covers or battens 24 are applied to the door opening I! and window opening 2|. These seal the room against access,

and,'as they are allowed to remain throughout substantially the entire period of construction of the building, the room is protected against dirt as well as injury.

"The terminal blocks 35 and 38 are protected during shipment by removable cover plates 8| and the ventilating flue I2 is closed by cover plate 82 (see Fig. 2). The plates 8i and 82 are removed when the room is set in position in a building.

In Fig. 2 is showna removable cover plate 83 overlying a portion of the manifold. This feature is optional. It will be understood, of course, that means would be provided on the exterior of the room for attachment of such cover plate, and that the insulation will be omitted in the area covered by the closure plate 83. a

The room so constructed and protected by the closures above identified, is in condition for shipment. No crating is necessary, but crating may be used to any extent desired.

In installing room structures of the type described above, the building frame is erected and the rooms are set in place as the frame rises. After the room is in place it may be bolted to the frame 84 as indicated at-8ll (Fig. 1). The procedure is illustrated by way of example in Fig. 6, in which a building having a steel frame 84 is shown in process of erection. In this view three room units are shown in position, one in the basement, one on the first floor, and one on the second floor, while a fourth unit is shown on a truck ready to be hoisted into position above the other three. After each unit is set in place the necessary connections from unit to unit can be made.

Whenever possible the spacing and location of various pipes in the terminal blocks are standard'zed, and the position of the terminal blocks in the superposed un t is also standardized, to the end that when the terminal blocks of successive units are connected with each other there will be provided continuous piping stacks extending upwardly through the bu lding and serving all the units. Such an arrangement is suggested in Figs. 1 and 6.

As the units are set in place before'they are piped up, it is desirable to have some sort of an extensible connection between the upper terminal block of one unit and the lower terminal block of the unit next aboveit. For the larger pipes, such as the soil pipe, and the vent stack, it is possible to use an upper pipe section 85 which is threaded at 85 so as to enter the, lower terminal b ock of one room, and a lower section 81 threaded at 88 to enter the upper terminal block of the room next below. Section 81 is providedwith a bell 88 which receives the lower end of the section 85. The joint is then calked with oakum and lead in the usual manner, as indicated at 8|. For the supply pipes and the steam pipes which operate under some pressure, there is an upper section 92 and a lower section 93 connected by a right and left threaded sleeve 84. The threads are straight and not tapered, as are the usual pipe threads, so that the sleeve 94 serves as means for adjusting the overall length of the interposed pipe conneclion. To prevent leakage at the ends of the sieeve 84 these ends are recessed to form a pocket having an overhanging flange 88, which receives lead calking, as indicated at 95.

As an example of alternative arrangemen s, the

joint of Fig. 15 is illustrated. Here the sleeve tions are made from the exterior of the room.

- This saves much wear and tear on the room,

greatly accelerates construction, and greatly reduces labor costs.

The closures 24 are not removed until the building is substantially completed, and after they have been removed, the only necessary work is the installation of the trim for the window frame and door frame and the hanging of the window and door. These parts are also-standard units, shipped from thefactory, preferably in the room, and in condition for immediate installation by the insertion of suitable fastenings.

In some cases the window and door and the trim therefor may be installed at the factory, in which case the closures 24 would overlie the trim as well as the window and door.

In order to illustrate the assembly in a single building of structures of diverse character, a construction is shown in Fig. 10 in which the upper room is a bath room conforming to the description already given, and the lower room is a kitchen alcove.

In the alcove as illustrated in Fig. 10, substantially the entire left hand side is open and when,

in place communicates freely with a room of conventional construction. In preparing such an alcove for shipment, the entire left hand side is covered by a plate analogous to the plate 24, so that the interior of the room is closed against access until the alcove is actually in place in the building.

In Fig. 10, in the lower room or alcove, there is shown a kitchen sink 96, a gas stove 91, a. broom closet 98, and a plurality of cupboards which are closed by doors 99. The arrangement illustrated in this figure is suggestive merely. The possibility of piping a tier of such rooms is indicated. No attempt has been made to illustrate all the features, such as lighting fixtures or all of the piping.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a modified arrangement. In these figures parts essentially similar to those in Figs. 1 to 9 are similarly numbered. Generally stated, theprincipal room A is square with rounded corners and is provided with a door l9 and a window 2 I, which might be variously located. The washstand and water-closet alone are installed in the main room, and in one of the side walls there is formed a large opening IOI. A separate alcove unit, indicated generally by the numeral B, is mounted along side the main room A and registers with the opening III. The two units, so assembled, are bolted together. The alcove B is equipped as a shower room, the shower head being indicated at II and the 1100 drainatlM. A

To provide a somewhat different unit there may be substituted for the unit B a unit indicated generally by the reference letter C, which com prises a tub 54' with the usual supplies andprovided with a shower head 59. The possibility of interchanging these two units B andC gives considerable flexibility, and the idea of assemblins its doorway l9 andwindow opening 2| would be closed by plates similar to plate 24 described with reference to Fig. 1, and the opening I III would also be closed by such a plate. When the closure over the opening llll and the plate I03 have been removed, units such as A and C can be assembled without necessitating the entrance of any workmen to the interior of either unit. After the units have been assembled, all necessary pipe connections can be made externally by removing cover plate I04 and connecting unions I05.

The embodiments above described will suggest the possibility for various modifications of structure and the possibility of securing desirable flexibility of arrangement by the use of units which of themselves are relatively closely standardized. For example, there can be side walls with windows or doors, or both, variously located. These might be capable of assembly with any one of several specifically diiferent walls provided with connections for various diiferent fixtures or for the same fixtures in different arrangement. Consequently no limitation to the specific embodiment selected for illustration is implied.

In a sense Fig. 11 shows two diverse rooms which are, in effect, a single unit. This idea might be considerably elaborated, as it is obviously immaterial whether the space in a single unit is or is not divided into more than one compartment. Units consisting of more than one room might make use of a single piping manifold with considerable economy of the piping layout.

The above description, while detailed-in character is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. The invention is applicable to rooms, or portions or multiples thereof, for a wide range of purposes. It secures great economies in merchandising and distribution, permits the substitution of machine for hand operations, favors a wider range of methods and materials, economizes space, and by simplification and standardization of piping secures economies in weight and material, and improvement in workmanship and durability. Finally the room unit is self -protecting and is suited to shipment with little or no crating.

What is claimed is,

.1. As a new article of manufacture, a self-sustaining room structure, transportable as a unit, said room structure being equipped with fixtures such as plumbing or lighting fixtures, connections sheet metal and provided with stiffening ribs extending outward; metal lath attached to the ex; tremities of said ribs; 9. heat insulating material sustained by said lath; fixtures mounted in said room; and connections for said fixtures housed between the room wall and said' lath, said connections being rigidly attached to the room structure.

3. A self-sustaining roomunit constructed of sheet metal and having at least one side wall defined by a peripheral stiflening flange extending outward relatively to the room; a manifold structure comprising a plurality of pipe connections, mounted in the space within said flange, rigidly connected with said flange, and having portions projecting through said wall into said room; and fixtures mounted in said room and connected with said projecting portions of the manifold.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, further characterized in that there is more than one flange, and a lath structure is connected with said flanges and overlies said piping; and a heat insulating covering is sustained by said lath.

5. The combination of two separately formed room units; means for connecting said units together; fixtures mounted in each unit; connections mounted in one unit and connected with the fixtures therein, said connections being accessible from the exterior of the unit for connection with a distributing system; connections mounted in the second unit and connected with the fixtures therein; and means for connecting the connections in the second unit with those in the first.

6. The combination of two separately formed .room units; means for connecting said units together; fixtures mounted in each unit; connections mounted in one unit and connected with the fixtures therein, said connections being accessible from the exterior of the unit for connection with a distributing-system; connections mounted in the second. unit and connected with the fixtures therein; and means accessible from the exterior of both units, for connecting the connections in the first unit with those in the other.

7 As a new article of manufacture, a self-sustaining room structure, equipped with at least one toilet fixture, and having an opening in its side wall against which interchangeable room units equipped with bathing appliances may be mounted; a piping system sustained by the first named unit and including supply and waste conmotions connected to said toilet fixture; and releasable connections for connecting the bathing appliances in such second-named unit, with said supply and waste connections.

8. A room structure composed of a plurality of separately formed room units, releasably connected and communicating with each other; functionally different fixtures in different ones of said units; a supply and waste system permanently mounted in one unit and accessible from the exterior of the unit; and connections between said system and the fixtures in all said units.

9. The combination of claim 8, further characterized in that the connections to fixtures in units, other than the unit in which the supply and waste system is mounted, are releasable and are accessible from the exterior of the units.

10. The combination of claim 1, further characterized in that the room itself serves as a shipping container-for the enclosed fixtures.

, .1. The combination with a building frame of a plurality of, room units mounted therein and supported .bysaid frame in spaced relation to one another, each unit including a self sustaining shell, 9, piping unit mounted fixedly thereon and comprising a plurality of pipes and at least one fixture connected to pipes of said unit;

and extensible pipe connections between the piping units of adjacent rooms,v serving to connect them as components of a general piping system for the building.

12. The combination with a building frame, of a plurality of room units mounted therein and supported by said frame in spaced relation to one another. each unit including a self sustaining shell, a piping unit fixedly mounted thereon and comprising a plurality of pipes and at least one fixture connected to pipes of said unit; and extensible pipe connections between the piping units of adjacent rooms and serving to conmeet them as components of a general piping system for the building, at least one of said extensible pipe connections including a pair of pipes and an intervening right and left threaded sleeve, and means for sealing the threaded joint between said pipes and said sleeve.

13. The combination with a building frame of a plurality of room units mounted therein and supported by said frame in spaced relation to one another, each unit including a self sustaining shell, 8. piping unit fixedly mounted thereon and comprising a plurality of pipes and at least one fixture connected to pipes of said unit; and extensible pipe connections between the piping units of adjacent rooms and serving to connect them as components of a general piping system for the building, at least one of said extensible pipe connections including a pair of pipes and an intervening right and left threaded sleeve, said sleeve having at its ends internally threaded recesses, calkingmaterial in said recesses, and nuts threaded into said recesses and compressing said calking material to seal the joint between said pipes and said sleeve.

14. The combination with a building frame of a plurality of room units mounted therein and supported by said frame .in spaced relation to one another, each unit including a self sustaining shell, a piping system accessible externally of the room for connection with the piping system of the building and at least one fixture connected to pipes of said unit; and means accessible externally of the room for fastening said room to said frame;

15. In-a building, the combination of a loadsustaining frame; a plurality of separately formed self-sustaining room units supported by said frame independently of each other, each of said room units including a distributing system for fixtures mounted in the room and such fixtures connected thereto; and releasable connections between the distributing systems of the various rooms whereby a distributing system for the building is produced. Q

16..A building structure, comprising in combination a load-sustaining frame; a plurality of separately formed self-sustaining room units supported by said frame out of load bearing relation with each other, each of said room units including as a portion of its structure, a distributing manifold; and releasable connections between the manifolds of adjacent rooms, serving to produce a distributing system for the building.

17. A room forming unit for installation in a building, comprising ,in combination a hollow partition; a substantially integral pipe manifold comprising the supplies, vent and soil pipe for a plumbing installation, said manifold being mounted within the partition and having fixture connections extending through a wall of the partition; means rigidly connecting said manifold with said partition; and means affording connection of said manifold with the supply, vent and soil pipe systems of a building.

18. As a new article of manufacture a selfsustaining room structure transportable as a unit,

with fixtures such as plumbing or lighting fixtures, the room structure being formed with at least one aperture; connections for said fixtures extending to the exterior of the room structure; and closure means releasably mounted on said structure, the room structure with such closure means serving as a shipping container for the enclosed fixtures.

l9. As a new article of manufacture, a selfsustaining room structure adapted to be so attached to a building as to form a part thereof, said room being finishedintemally and equipped with fixtures such as plumbing and lighting fix-, tures; and connections for such fixtures extend ing to the exterior of the room structure, and there accessible for connection, while the room is so attached to such building.

20. As a new article of manufacture, a selfsustaining room structure adapted to be mounted in a building as a unit, said room structure being finished internally and equipped with fixtures such as plumbing and lighting fixtures; and connections for such fixtures extending to the exterior of the room structure and there accessible for connection with appropriate distributing systems in the building structure, said connections being constructed as a unit manifold associated with one side wall of the room structure and extending from top to bottom thereof, said mani- 2,037,895 said room being finished internally and equipped fold being provided at said top and bottom with means for connecting it with similar manifolds of other units. a

21. As a new article of manufacture, a selfsustaining room structure adapted to be mounted in a building as a unit, said room structure being finished internally and equipped with fixtures such as plumbing and lighting fixtures; and connections for such fixtures extending to the exterior of the room structure and there accessible for connection with appropriate distributing systems in the building structure, said connections including a manifold mounted in a wall element of the room structure, said wall element including a removable portion whose removal gives access to said manifold.

22. As a new article of manufacture, a room defining element comprising a partition; a plumbing fixture mounted on said partition; and supply and waste lines mounted in said partition and connected with said fixture, said room defining element being capable of installation in a building as a unit, and said supply and waste lines comprising a substantially integral manifold extending from top to bottom of said parti tion and terminating at such top and bottom in members adapted for connection with the wall and with means for affording connections with the supply and waste systems.

ERIC GUGLER. 

